President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.
Following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire, initial U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan in April failed to reach a peace deal. Trump later announced the open-ended extension of the ceasefire and the continuation of a U.S. blockade until negotiations concluded.
On Sunday, Trump announced that the U.S. and Iran had reached a "great deal." The memorandum of understanding was read to reporters on Wednesday, and the U.S. and Iranian presidents signed it that day, a White House official said.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted images on Thursday of the signed memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States, calling it a "historical document" with this message: "Peace will be realized in the shadow of mutual respect."
This handout from the Telegram account of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting on June 18, 2026, shows Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian holding a document showing a memorandum of understanding he signed to end the Middle East war.
Handout/IRIB/AFP via Getty Images
The images posted by Pezeshkian on social media appeared to show his signature on the document alongside those President Donald Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Trump signed the document while dining at Versailles on Wednesday evening, according to the White House.
-ABC News' Othon Leyva
6:43 AM EDT
Trump says his critics on Iran are 'either jealous, bad people, or stupid'
President Donald Trump, who arrived early on Thursday back in Washington after attending the G7 and visiting Versailles, posted on social media shortly afterward on a range of topics, including his deal with Iran.
"These fools, who think I haven’t been tough enough on Iran, when the Stock Market Just Hit A RECORD HIGH, and Oil prices are 'tumbling' down, are either jealous, bad people, or stupid," Trump posted at 4:42 a.m. ET., adding, "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!! President DJT."
President Donald Trump arrives following the G7 Summit, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, June 18, 2026.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
Trump's post, which followed his 3:30 a.m. ET arrival at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, came after strong words from some members of his own party, including Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who called the war with Iran "the worst foreign policy blunder in decades."
Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York also called on Wednesday for the president to be transparent about the deal's terms and saying, "We’ve been told dozens of times that this war is over, and dozens of times we’ve been disappointed."
"This will be regarded as one of the biggest American disasters, and it's because Trump started this war," Schumer told reporters outside the Capitol. "He didn't know how to finish it, and it looks like in too many ways he has just capitulated to the Iranians."
-ABC News' Molly Nagle and Lalee Ibssa
Jun 17, 2026, 6:36 PM EDT
Trump signs MOU with Iran while dining at Versailles: White House
President Donald Trump on Wednesday physically signed the memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran that ends the war, a White House official said.
"On Sunday, the MOU was signed digitally by Vice President Vance and Speaker Ghalibaf and witnessed by President Trump. Now, it has been signed by President Trump and President Pezeshkian," a White House official said in a statement shared with ABC News.
President Donald Trump receives a tour of Chateau de Versailles from President of France Emmanuel Macron ahead of a dinner, June 17, 2026 in Versailles, France.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
A White House official, along with another source familiar, said this signing occurred during Trump's dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles on Wednesday.
A photo of the signed document was sent to Iran and mediating countries, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Later, the White House released a video on social media of Trump sitting next to Macron and signing a document. The caption stated: "President Donald J. Trump has SIGNED the Iran Memorandum of Understanding at Versailles in France. "
However, the White House has not publicly released the document.
On Monday, a senior White House official said that both Trump and Vance had already signed the MOU, but the administration did not publicly release the document at that time, either.
The White House did not immediately respond to ABC News when asked to clarify the discrepancy.
With Trump's signing, the agreement is "now in effect," a White House official confirmed -- which would mean that the Strait of Hormuz could open.
The White House did not immediately answer ABC News when asked whether the strait is now open.
-ABC News' Chris Boccia and Isabella Murray
Jun 17, 2026, 6:29 PM EDT
Schumer calls war in Iran 'one of the biggest American disasters'
After the details of the memorandum of understanding were verbally released by senior administration officials, Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the war in Iran "will be regarded as one of the biggest American disasters."
Trump "started this war, he didn't know how to finish it, and it looks like in too many ways he has just capitulated to the Iranians," Schumer told reporters outside the Capitol.
"When you look at the 14 points that the administration has agreed to, it looks like Iran has won on just about every one of them. Trump has done a very poor job of negotiating. We are worse off than we were when the war started," Schumer added.
